10 Question AFQ* Checklist for Your Community
Here’s a quick quiz to assess how friendly your community is for living an active lifestyle. It may seem more a test
of urban planning and roadway design, but the questions
reflect the research on how inviting an area is for walking,
bicycling, and transit. So take a 30-minute or longer walk
in your neighborhood, then answer these questions about
what you experienced (just pick the closest answer). At
the end, add up your score and see how your area stacks
up—it will give you ideas on possible improvements you
could share with local officials and health advocates.
1. How many different kinds of destinations (e.g., homes
and apartments, shopping and restaurants, work
places, churches, schools, civic buildings, recreational
or natural areas, etc.) did you see on your walk?
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MarkFenton.com
tains, public art, bicycle parking racks, etc. that make it
pleasant for bicycling and walking?
a. Most streets are inviting for walking and cycling.
b. At least half of streets are inviting for walking and
cycling.
c. Few streets have those inviting elements.
6. Are homes and buildings in business and retail areas
set up near the street, with parking on the street and/or
behind the building, and with easy access for bicyclists
and pedestrians?
a. Most buildings are near the sidewalk and inviting to
walkers and cyclists.
a. Lots—at least four or more different kinds of destinations.
b. At least half of the buildings are near the sidewalks
and inviting.
b. Some—two or three types of destinations.
c. Most buildings are set back from the road, often with
a sea of asphalt parking out front.
c. Very few—e.g., mostly homes and residential buildings, or just businesses.
2. Were streets well connected and blocks generally long
or short on your walk?
a. Well connected, short blocks; takes a minute or so to
walk a block (~400 feet or shorter).
b. Medium connections and blocks; takes two to four
minutes to walk a block (~400 to 800 feet).
c. Poorly connected, long blocks; takes more than four
minutes to walk one (over ~800 feet).
3. Do streets have sidewalks or side paths and are they
inviting for walking (e.g., wide enough for two people,
set back from the road, and in good repair)?
a. Plenty—there are wide, inviting sidewalks on most
streets.
b. Some—sidewalks on over half of streets, but plenty
are missing or uninviting.
7. How was traffic, and did you feel safe as a pedestrian?
a. Traffic was fine—cars moved at reasonable speeds;
it was easy to cross streets with a reasonable wait.
b. Traffic was okay, but sometimes it seemed too fast
or close, and/or crossing streets took too long.
c. Traffic was bad--there was too much, it was too fast,
and/or too close; crossing streets felt dangerous.
8. Did you feel safe from crime or other dangers?
a. I felt very safe—there were no (or very few) scary
places, people, or animals.
b. Fairly safe—but occasional scary things would give
me pause.
c. Not so safe—several scary things disincline me to
walk there again.
c. Few—many streets lack sidewalks, or those that exist are in very tough shape.
How’d you score? Add 3 points for each (a), 2 for each
(b), and 1 for each (c).
4. Did it appear convenient and safe to ride a bicycle?
Specifically, are there multi-use trails available and/or
bike lanes painted on the busier roads?
What it means:
a. Plenty—plentiful trails and bike lanes so it’s very
easy to bicycle in safety.
b. Some—there are some trails and/or lanes for bicyclists, but not a complete network.
c. Very few or no trails and/or bike lanes in the area.
5. How many streets have on-street parking, trees along
the street, and amenities such as benches, water foun*Activity Friendliness Quotient
20-24 Good. Your neighborhood is inviting you to get out
and walk or bike; take it up on the invitation and be a
role model for regular walking and bicycling.
14-19 Fair. A mix of good and bad, your neighborhood
needs you to get involved; see the resources below for
ideas on improving your score.
8-13 Poor. Your neighborhood is a heart attack waiting to happen! Get your neighbors and public officials
involved, or it’s time to consider a move.